Beaux Duke
Southeast La
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Joined: 01/07/2002
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Our last camping trip to Big Lagoon State in Pensacola was absolutely the most problematic trip we've ever taken.
The park itself was fine and the staff was very helpful so don't get riled if you like Big Lagoon cuz we do too. Here's our story.
I was anxious to leave work on Thursday afternoon and get started but I got home and discovered the roofers who were supposed to repair our hail damaged roof had started early and the garage door where I keep my truck was blocked by pallets of shingles. Not only that but nails were all over the driveway.
So I had to get the shingles moved and a magnetic sweeper run over the driveway before we could leave.
Because of the roofers, we left to go camping at Big Lagoon in Pensacola to watch Blue Angels on Saturday July 12 an hour late.
Things were relatively uneventful till I needed fuel. I pulled off I-10 at the Loxley exit in Al. The truck started running rough pulling away from the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp.
Got fuel in Loxley - Started truck and the Check Engine light came on.
Decided to continue on since truck was running OK at speed. Wrote it off as trash in the tank because I had run the fuel level pretty low.
Pulled into camp site at 10 p.m.. After we finally got set up, I needed to move truck out of the road. It died 4 times while I was trying to back it out of the way. It would barely idle and would die when I applied fuel.
Next morning I checked around but no one had a diagnostic tool so I rode the bike to ranger station. They lent me a phone book and offered consolation. Since I wasn't sure how long the repair would take I inquired as to the availability of our site for Monday. Taken all week.
Called a dealership (Pete Moore) to see if they could squeeze me in. They said, "Maybe".
Called wrecker
Waited an hour for wrecker.
Rode with wrecker guy to dealership. Nice ride. Real pleasant guy just out of Iraq. He broke an ankle jumping from a guard tower that was collapsing from a mortar attack.
Got to the dealership and talked to the rep, Paul. Explained problem.
Paul called Enterprise and they came over and picked me up.
Rented Nissan Sentra.
Back at campground around 11:30. Morning shot already.
Decided to ride across bay to maybe see the Blue Angels practice and check out parking for tomorrow. Got caught in traffic & decided to go back since it was getting late and I needed to pick up truck if it was ready...
Rode back across bridge and stopped at big fancy restaurant called Landry's and got stale lettuce and canned red beans for expensive price. Ate there before and it was good. Don't know what happened that time. Too busy worrying about truck to complain. Waiter was nice though.
While eating, got call from dealer. Truck was ready.
Problem was a loose MAF sensor. Loose because I didn't tighten it when I cleaned my reusable air filter. Arrgh...
Drove to Enterprise. Waited for a van to take me to the dealer.
Picked up truck. 225 bucks for a loose screw and grease on my floor mats. Had to act happy truck was fixed for reasonable price. Dealership guy was nice but I didn't need a lecture on how important it is to keep connections tight.
Let me stop here and say Pete Moore dealership was top notch. They ran a very clean shop and I was treated very nicely. They had donuts in the customer waiting room. I was out of town and they took me in and got me out in one day. The price charged was what I expected going in and included the car rental and towing fee. I'd go back if I had to.
Next day we got up early and left for the air show. Had to turn around and go back for chairs. I was told that I had forgot them. lol
Finally got rolling at 8:00 a.m. Got stuck in traffic on the first bridge. Took 2 hours to get on the beach. We met up with our daughter, her husband and three grandchildren who had come in from the East side of Pensacola and didn't have to deal with the traffic. We're on the beach by 10.
Ate lunch around 11:45.
At noon the first planes had started to show up. 12:05 sky opened up.
Lightning popping all around. We kneeled in the sand for a few minutes while 40+ mph wind blew and lightning popped all around. Things had become pretty serious so we ran back to truck. Grandchildren were scared to death. We left the beach supplies behind. While sitting out the storm in the truck we got word the show was cancelled. In addition 8 people were hit by lightning...
Got out of truck to go back and get beach supplies. Son-in-law and I struggled to bring supplies back in the driving, stinging, freezing rain and wind driven sand. Still lightning some.
Returned to truck only to find traffic totally stopped. Sat in truck for 3 hours not moving an inch. Not one inch.
Rain finally stopped. Apparently ambulances had arrived and removed injured people. I was told helicopter weren't used because the weather had them grounded. Traffic started moving after 3 hour delay.
Found out from local girl walking to work that Thursday practice run is best time to see Blue Angels. If you go, think long and hard about parking on the Fort Pickens side of the island.
On the way back we saw owners digging out cars stuck in sand drifts from the rain washing away the dunes. We saw cars that had been parked in low spots that had been flooded.
Total 5 hours in truck Saturday just sitting mainly.
Got back to park, totally whipped. Left everything in truck.
Got up next morning & walked a few trails, first nice thing that had happened.
Spent rest of morning washing sand out of beach supplies from day before and letting truck interior dry out. Loaded up and left.
Sitting at stop sign at the end of the park drive, the Low Fuel light came on. Fuel gauge read empty. I had just filled up the night before. Pulled away and gauge started working again.
After driving about 20 minutes the truck A/C started freezing up. No air blowing out. Had to turn unit off every so often to let it thaw.
I had just replaced the control unit 2 months ago because of that problem. Freon level was fine at that time.
Low fuel light continued to come on and go off.
Stopped at a rest area in MS and found broken glass in camper. Couldn't figure out where it came from as all the cabinet doors were secured with velcro strips. Cleaned it up.
Got home and found lots more broken glass from a huge measuring cup that had fallen. Spent over an hour cleaning it up with shop vac. Glass was everywhere!
And so ended our camping trip from Hades.
Can't wait till the next trip the end of this month. Got to be better. See ya on the road.
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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well, since you been all the way down to hades and back, the only way is up from now on. Good Luck, sounds like you are going to need it LOL
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Bearnkat
Fort Worth, Texas
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Joined: 07/30/2004
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OMG, what a trip! The next trip has to be better, it couldn't get any worse!
Chuck & Terry
2005 Pilgrim 281RB-S
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tkcas01
Roaming Fulltimer
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Joined: 10/11/2005
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Having fun is hard work!
Working out of my roaming home office... (currently here)
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bdougt
Now Louisiana, Eventually Michigan
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Joined: 04/05/2007
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It sounds like you kept your sense of humor - good job!
Brian, Donna, and Ted the dog.
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agesilaus
North Florida
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Joined: 05/06/2008
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Traffic around those beaches has been awful every time I've been up there. I wasn't awfully impressed with Big Lagoon either when we camped there. maybe would give it a 5 out of 10 score. I thought it had small crowded sites in the part we were in.
BK
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burgess001
Springfield, MO USA
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Joined: 04/08/2002
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Well, I would say you were in sight of Hades...maybe. However, you were not the one struck by lightning. Your beach stuff was not stolen while unattended. You were not mugged. Your campsite was not occupied when you got there. Your repair bill total was not followed by lots of zeros. And...you did not have to roof your own house instead of going camping. Actually, I'm beginning to think you had a pretty good trip. Just kidding... Anyway, keep your chin (or chins) up and keep counting your blessings.
Jerry and Katie
More than 20 great years motorhoming and still loving it...
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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Look at the glass half full. Your truck didn't get stuck in the sand. Didn't get flooded due to parking in low area. And you got home safe and sound.
You didn't knock down a bank ATM canopie on top of your truck by mis-judging your 5'r height. Unless you might have left that incident out.
Some days you're the bug. And some days you're the windshield.
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JAXFL
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Joined: 06/12/2002
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I don't see the problem. That sounds like my normal camping trip. Murphy goes with me ever where I go and brings his law books. Glad all are well.
Happy Trails
JAXFL
2008 3100LTD Sun Seeker
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Saftman
Lafayette, La.
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Joined: 08/14/2006
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At least the Blue Angels didn't drop a boomb on you.
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